Sunday, 15 December 2013

Where to start?

Indeed where to start? Several things of relevance have happened since my last post. Firstly Peter O'Toole has sadly passed away. While I would not normally comment on an actors live this has struck me as quite relevant. As you will know I plan to run an Arab Revolt game at Broadside next year. You will no doubt also be aware that Peter O'Toole was the brilliant actor who brought Laurence of Arabia to the big screen. Thus I have been reading about this conflict plotting and planning the game and working out the terrain for the game. It just strikes me as very bad timing from my point of view. Not because I feel the universe pays any attention to me of course but because it will inevitably bring the conflict to the for front of wargames minds.

Secondly the Analogue Painting Challenge has now started at 6am local time, yesterday morning. The first few entries are already in. I am one of those painters who has several things on the paint table all at the same time. This in mostly because I can't retain any focus and do not have the determination to stay on a project for very long at all. As I had cleared my painting table ready for the challenge I will be bringing along several things all at the same time, but as things are completed they will get photographed and emailed to Curt for inclusion in the challenge.

So what have I started? So far I have started some more 10mm Ashigaru to bolster my Samurai armies. Some 20mm Arab revolt figures for the Broadside game next year. As well as a couple of 28mm figures. These last two, one for Curt as an entrance fee to the Challenge and one for the first person in the 600 club to reach 600 points. This last figure is a side challenge in which all of the 600 club will paint and present a single figure to the first of us to reach the target 600 points. I have decided to do this early as I don't know how fast certain people will work, and as I suggested the side wager it would be ceorlish of me in the extreme not to be prepared. And should I be the first to finish I will be happy to keep and use the figure.

You may expect the first few points to roll of this production line in the next few days. Probably the Ashigaru but at this stage that is just a guess as I might rush a 54mm Gladiator out for a game tomorrow night! (Not started yet, not even out of it's packet so may be a rush job as I only found out about the game yesterday.)

Additionally my Deadzone order arrived on Saturday so I would like to get them prepped and painted as fast as possible. I already have the colour scheme in my head so it will be good to plough through them.

Finally I will mention the club game I played yesterday. It was a Jet age check your 6 game. (yes I forgot my camera again) Let us just say I had a flight of Argentinian planes and had to attack HMS Plymouth during the Falklands war. All my planes reached the target, all dropped their bombs and all missed the target. The Harriers arrived to help defend the ships and I decided to run away (head for home for wine and medals.) Yeah well that was the plan but the harriers had other ideas and fired infra-red guided missiles at the bombers. Despite missing me it was so close as to get a lucky strike. Graham rolled double 6 to get the hit and another double 6 on the lucky strike table. Which meant the fuel tank exploded. Absolutely nothing I could do. So while I did get my other aircraft off the table having failed to do any damage at all and having lost a plane a clear British win.

That's it for today. I hope to have some painting to show soon. Thanks for reading and more to come soon. Cheers Clint

Where to start indeed, one of Hollywood's greats but I always felt he was overlooked due to hell raising tendencies. As for the challenge, like you I have a mountain of things on the go - so much for best laid plans.

Thank you Andrew. I anticipate very low point to begin with. Please don't read this and think I am trying to lull you into thinking I will bomb you for hundreds of points later on. I think it's going to be a steady creep to my target.

Fine post, Clint. Peter O'Toole was a great actor, in the finest Irish tradition. In addition to the films mentioned, I always love seeing "My Favourite Year" - a very wonderful, human and funny film. Good luck with the painting!

Thank you Sidney, I will need luck with the painting I think. Only managed to prep one of the DeadZone figures so far, Hard to stick together and lots of mould lines. But once done they should look pretty good.

It seems like you have been reading my school report! As for the Harriers. It was unlucky that not a single Argentinean plane could hit the target. But when the Harriers have guided missiles and you only have cannon a modern dog fight has clear results. Not saying I was unlucky at all. Sometimes you win and sometimes well you just have to enjoy the game. Thank you Dave

It's okay, Clint. The dice gods dislike me as well!I am blaming the funk I feel this week on the passing of O'toole and Laughlin."The Ruling Class" and many more besides Lawrence of Arabia will tide me over, but I'm still sad to think that there will be no more O'toole films and Billy Jack is done as well.

Ahh mate me and Cameras are not best friends. I have noticed over the last few weeks that things are just slipping my mind. I think it's the depression/medication, but it could be something much more serious.